Writers are infamous for struggling with personal demons — whether it be memories of a bad childhood or, as in Aaron Sorkin’s case, staying away from cocaine. In an interview with W, Sorkin talks about writing the new ‘Facebook’ movie, his relationship with Maureen Dowd, and learning to write without cocaine.

On his crack addiction in the mid-90s:

"I had what they call a 'high bottom,'" he explained. "My life didn't fall apart before I got into rehab. I didn't lose my job or run over a kid or injure anyone when I was high. But the hardest thing I do every day is not take cocaine. You don't get cured of addiction — you're just in remission."

On rehab:

"I had no intention of rehab working," Sorkin recalled. "I just thought it would be good to put 28 days between me and drugs. There were fortune cookie sayings on the walls at Hazelden, and I'm not susceptible to those things. But I've never seen anything work as well."

On his 2001 relapse:

"Again, it was a matter of opportunity: Julia [by that time his wife] was away, and I had a window where I could fly to Vegas on a Friday, get high all night, and then return to L.A. the next day. I'd do this three times a year, and it was amazing I never got caught. I was the worst criminal. I had a four-dollar pipe, and the bowl was made of metal. It showed up on the monitor at Burbank airport and they asked to search my bag." The authorities found a carefully packed bundle of hallucinogenic mushrooms and rock cocaine. "I fainted," Sorkin said. "When I came to, I was in handcuffs. I was lucky–there are guys serving time in prison for doing less than I did."